Head coach Fabien Galthie has announced eight changes for the France team for this week’s Six Nations trip to Wales in round four of the competition.
Galthie hands three players their debuts for Sunday’s game after February 25’s 13-13 draw with Italy in their last game.
Fullback Leo Barre, centre Nicholas Depoortere and lock Emmanuel Meafou will make their Test bows in Cardiff with winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec, No 8 Gregory Alldritt, lock Thibaud Flament and hooker Julien Marchand the other changes.
Galthie was forced into three changes with centre Jonathan Danty suspended and flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert injured and Posolo Tuilagi sidelined with a fitness issue.
Usual fullback Thomas Ramos moves to the number 10 shirt freeing up space for Barre with 21-year-old Depoortere standing in for Danty.
Bierre-Biarrey comes in form Matthis Lebel, Le Garrec starts instead of the criticised Maxime Lucu and Alldritt returns from injury to captain the side instead of Paul Boudehent.
The new second-row partnership of Toulouse team-mates Meafou and Flament replaces Cameron Woki and Tuilagi while Marchand steps in for Peato Mauvaka.
On the bench La Rochelle tighthead Georges-Henri Colombe is also set for his debut as France eye just their second win in this year’s Six Nations.
The alterations are the most Galthie has made from one Six Nations game to another since taking over in late 2019.
France – 15 Leo Barre; 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Nicolas Depoortere, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Nolann Le Garrc; 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros; 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Subs: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Loic Venance/AFP
